Did you know that there are over 17 MICE destinations in Italy? Each destination offers varied opportunities for events that differ in size, and scope and each is unique in its own way. One of the most lively and authentic is Naples, and today we want to explain why you should consider it for your next corporate event in Italy.
Why meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions in Naples?
Naples, a city of a thousand faces and many places for events is a real gem for business events. This destination encompasses everything an event needs.
These include culture, history, heritage, breathtaking landscapes, centres of excellence in education, research, art and design, pleasant weather and lastly its Mediterranean lifestyle and its distinctive gastronomy. In fact, the whole history of the city is based on the concept of welcoming foreigners and of different cultures living side by side.
Naples is located in the South of Italy. The well-established national and international direct flight connections make it easy to reach from major European hubs.
The International Airport of Naples is located just 5 km away from the city centre and links to more than 90 destinations. Some include Rome, Milan, London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Frankfurt and Brussels can be reached in less than 3 hours. Additionally, it’s easy to reach by train, with only 1 hour from Rome and 4 hours from Milan.
Its contemporary urban fabric preserves the elements of its long and eventful history. The historic city centre is the largest in all of Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site since in 1995.
This is the reason why Naples lists many fascinating unconventional venues: museums, exclusive palaces, churches, castles and theatres together with catacombs and underground tunnels. Organisers can privatise the unique venues for MICE events with up to 800 participants in a plenary room.
At the same time, Naples has a strong contemporary creative nature. The city can host conferences, conventions and shows in innovative congress and exhibition centres, which can host up to 1,150 delegates in plenary sessions. Furthermore, several qualified conference hotels can be the ideal venue for congresses and meetings of up to 1,000 participants in plenary rooms.
Where to stay
Naples’s hospitality industry is well developed, offering big room capacity in 3, 4 and 5-star hotels totalling 132 hotels. The total number of hotel beds capacity in Naples is 12,843 (as of August 2024). We picked two of our favourites we’d like to recommend for your next stay or event.
Palazzo Caracciolo
The Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli, a member of MGallery by Sofitel, is a luxury 4* hotel. It offers a combination of heritage and contemporary design and is centrally located, just minutes’ walk from the city’s main attractions. For example, the Spire of San Gennaro, the Cathedral of Naples, the National Archaeological Museum and Santa Chiara. The central location makes it an attractive hotel for leisure and business travellers.
With 146 guest rooms and 8 meeting rooms with the biggest room capacity for up to about 70 delegates, it can meet all the needs of business or private events. Furthermore, delegates can choose between on-site dining options at the La Cucina, run by Chef Daniele Riccardi. Famous for reinventing traditional Neapolitan cuisine with skill and flair, the restaurant offers a warm and informal atmosphere in a historical setting. Or you can dine at the Nel Chiostro restaurant, and sample the sumptuous menu in a more formal setting. For informal drinks and snacks, you can head to the hotel bar, called La Cantina.
Romeo Hotel
The five-star luxury hotel was named “One of the best new hotels in the world” by Condé Nast Traveller and “A new concept for the city” by The Arbuturian.
Its central and convenient location offers proximity to all major attractions within walking distance, for all cultural and business purposes. What makes it even more attractive for events, and incentives in particular, is its proximity to the Molo Beverello harbour. From there guests can hop on the ferry for a day trip to Capri, Ischia, Amalfi, or Positano. Journey time is only about 30-40 minutes, making it a must for everyone staying there.
It’s perfect for small, exclusive events and has 82 rooms and 3 restaurants. The gastronomic offerings include Romeo Bar on the ground floor, panoramic Romeo Pool Bar on the 9th floor, and lastly Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant Il Comandante on the 10th floor will offer your guests a multi-sensory Neapolitan experience. Spectacular views of the harbour are included! Needless to say, you’ll also find all the luxury and business facilities and amenities you’d expect. It has meeting rooms fully equipped with technical facilities that can accommodate up to 150 seated guests.
Incentive in Naples
Naples is a great destination to add an incentive element to a business conference or bring the group there for a couple of days for team building. In particular, Naples is a magical place where colours, flavours and history are intertwined in a charming mix. These elements add up to position the city as the perfect incentive destination.
From scuba diving up to hiking Vesuvius Volcano, from sailing in the Gulf of Naples to horse riding on Ischia island, from Vespa touring on the Amalfi coast to time travelling in the archaeological sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii, from discovering the treasure of San Gennaro (St. Januarius), the patron Saint of the city, to assisting to folkloristic and religious celebrations, from simple cooking classes to more elaborate show cooking, Naples offers any type of activity for any preference and group size!
Few incentive ideas
Pizza making – Napoli is famous for its fine pizza, so delegates will have the chance to learn the secret techniques from real Neapolitans! The session will foster team building and teach cooking techniques in a fun way. These will include learning the secret of making the perfect dough.
Vespa tour – Typical activity specifically to Italy, this tour with electric Vespa scooters offers delegates to discover the area of Naples, being able to navigate through the narrow streets and feel like a local. The itinerary will be designed according to the group’s interests, e.g. – food, history, culture etc.
The Pompeii Odyssey – The aim of this activity is for teams to follow a customised site map that conducts the guests to the discovery of the Pompeii 79 A.D daily life. The team will encounter challenges and will have to gain sesterces, ancient Roman coins, to win the tasks. Finally, the winning team will get Pompeii honorary citizenship from a Roman Senator.
CSR Programmes
As a result of the increasing awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and demands to add this element to events, we closely work with suppliers who adhere to sustainable standards. Moreover, we will ensure minimal food wastage and work with suppliers who use local and regional produce. From food to decorations, we will source everything locally.
As part of its CSR programme, Naples Convention Bureau collaborates with Graffiti Park and the Social Artistic Laboratory of Iron Angels. The former is a restoration project involving the local communities and beautiful murals, while the second supports and develops craftsmanship with poor materials.
Bleisure
We know that when people come to Naples for business they will fall in love with the destination! Either, they’ll prolong their stay for beliesure, or come at a later point with friends or family for holidays.
In our previous post “Top Italian bleisure destinations” we mentioned that in Naples travellers can find an interesting combination of past, present and future worthwhile exploring.
Naples is also a foodie paradise! Did you know that the Campania Region is the 2nd in Italy and the 1st in South Italy for traditional certified food and wine production? Travellers will fall in love with the diverse and local food scene.
Food items that travellers can’t miss and try in Naples include, for example, baba, coffee, buffalo mozzarella dop, Neapolitan salami, sfogliatella shortcrust and crinkly pastry, spaghetti with clams, apricots and cherry tomatoes from the Vesuvius and wines of Vesuvius.
Have one day to spend on Naples? Here are few sightseeing suggestions:
– Borgo Marinari
– Piazza Bellini
– Royal Palace of Naples
– Piazza del Plebiscito
– Castel Nuovo
– National Archaeological Museum
– Spaccanapoli: The historic centre of Napoli
– Castel dell’Ovo and the water front
Conclusion
That’s Naples in a nutshell! We hope that it gave you a good overview and some ideas to start planning your next event in Naples.
At Italian Special Occasions DMC & Events, we’re passionate about creating experiences that go beyond the ordinary, leaving a lasting impression on your delegates while positively impacting the local community.
If you’re considering Naples for your next corporate event, we’d love to help you plan an unforgettable experience. It’s a destination that offers endless possibilities for both business and leisure.
Get in touch with us, and let’s start creating something extraordinary together!
